TESTED
YETI
SB66
BY BRAD WALTON
Yeti's SB66 is the Colorado-based company's take on creating the ultimate all-mountain bike, one that can truly do it all. Available as an alloy or carbon frame and in a variety of trim levels, the SB66 (
SB being short for 'Super Bike' ) is certainly designed with versatility in mind, but one look at the numbers on the 6" travel, 26"-wheeled bike shows there's plenty of emphasis on speed and stability for when gravity takes over. Sporting a relatively long top tube and low bottom bracket, the SB shares similar attributes to modern day downhill machines, but with Yeti's innovative 'Switch Link' suspension, which is designed to excel at both climbing and descending.
Yeti SB66 Details
• Purpose: Trail / all-mountain
• Hydroformed 6061 aluminum frame
• Rear-wheel travel: 6"/152mm
• Fox Float CTD rear shock
• Fox 34 150 CTD fork
• Switch Technology Suspension
• Tapered InSet headtube, 44/56mm
• 12 x 142mm rear axle
• Splined BB shell w/ ISCG-03/05 adapter
• Weight: 27.4 lbs (w/o pedals )
• Sizes: small, medium, large (tested ), XL
• MSRP: $6,800 USD as tested
Frame DesignYeti has invested some quality time into the tube layout of the SB, and it shows - this is one good looking bike. Every tube on the SB66 frame is shaped differently, featuring unique manipulations for optimized
strength-to-weight advantages in all the right places. The low-slung, robust appearance beckons for fast, aggressive riding. Despite Yeti's trail-bike nomenclature, the Super Bike's alloy frame is no lightweight, at least comparatively speaking. At 7.5 lbs (
with rear Fox air shock), Yeti has positioned the SB66's frame at the heavier end of the trail bike weight spectrum. Emphasis on frame rigidity for the purpose of efficient energy transfer comes at a price, and Yeti is willing to accept a weight penalty for the responsive handling of a stiff frame and suspension optimized for versatility.
The SB66 frame is suitable for a variety of build specs. The 44/56mm tapered InSet headtube allows tapered steerer tubes to ride on bearings inside the frame, for the same low stack height regardless of fork choice. Cable routing is neat and tidy along the inside of the front triangle, with space to accommodate a dropper post cable. The rear derailleur cable is housed inside the drive side chainstay, and this same chainstay is protected by a custom chain-slap guard. Front derailleur adjustment is a no-brainer with direct mounting onto the frame. The SB66 also features interchangeable dropouts for a 135mm quick-release or 12 x 142mm rear axle.
Super Bike SuspensionThe highlight of Yeti's SB series is their Switch suspension design. Yeti employs a rotating main pivot that is mounted on an eccentric, allowing it to change direction in order to react to opposing suspension forces. The eccentric assembly continuously repositions the lower pivot of the swing arm throughout the range of travel. Acting as a dual link design, it allows the early stages of travel to guide the lower pivot of the swing arm rearward, lengthening the chainstay. Unlike earlier renditions of rearward axle path designs that elicit unusually high amounts of chain growth and thus kickback characteristics, Switch Technology's eccentric pivot, as the name implies, changes direction deeper into the travel. This late stage reversal removes all such chain forces from the suspension, allowing the rear end to be fully active from mid to end stroke. It's a brilliant concept, but as moving parts will have their way over time, we were skeptical of the eccentric's durability.
|
Switch Technology promises the best of uphill and downhill performance with an eccentric link that switches direction. Seem complicated? It isn't. Fox Float CTD air shocks front and rear offer a range of compression settings for those who want a firmer pedaling platform for longer climbs. |
Yeti SB66 Component CheckThe SB66 is available as a frame only or in a variety of trim options. Given the choice, we went with Shimano's top shelf XTR kit. Blinging chrome finish aside, our performance expectations were substantial with Shimano's top-level component group. Fox air shocks front and rear with Kashima coating nicely complement the looks of the SB66, and at 150mm front and rear travel, should provide a balanced, efficient feel that can be switched to Climb mode for those relentless ascents. The DT-Swiss M-1700 Tricon wheels, recommended by Yeti for their excellent strength-to-weight ratio and deadly reliability, seem a worthy fit for the SB given its all-mountain intent, and have the capability of going tubeless. Maxxis Ardent tires, a 2.4 front with 2.25 rear, suggest a bike ready to go fast both up and down. A Thomson stem and seatpost seem like a no-brainer on a bike of this caliber. A Race Face SixC carbon handle bar provides stiff steering control with excellent weight advantages over alloy. To finish things off, a Chris King headset shows that Yeti isn't messing around when it comes to a high-end build. No expense is spared on this $6,800 USD bike.
|
Stiff, snappy, crisp. No, we're not talking about pickles. It's XTR, and once you've tried it, it's hard to ride anything else. |
|
A DT-Swiss M-1700 Tricon wheelset is the perfect match for the SB's all-mountain intent. Sealed bearings with DT's legendary ratchet driver mated to tubeless ready rims. |
Specifications
|
Price
|
$6800 |
|
Travel |
152mm |
|
Rear Shock |
Fox Float CTD |
|
Fork |
FOX 34 150mm CTD |
|
Headset |
Chris King |
|
Crankarms |
Shimano XTR (26-38) |
|
Rear Derailleur |
Shimano XTR 10 speed |
|
Front Derailleur |
Shimano XTR |
|
Shifter Pods |
Shimano XTR |
|
Handlebar |
Race Face SixC |
|
Stem |
Thomson |
|
Grips |
Yeti Lock-On |
|
Brakes |
Shimano XTR |
|
Wheelset |
DT Swiss M-1700 Tricon |
|
Tires |
Maxxis Ardent, 2.4 Front, 2.25 Rear |
|
Seat |
WTB Yeti Branded |
|
Seatpost |
Thomson |
|
| |
Riding the SB66 |
The SB66's stiff frame and efficient suspension makes for a nimble, poppy machine. All-mountain riding never seemed quite so effortless. |
Trail Rider's Geometry Geometry for the SB66 is quite long, so long in fact that some riders may question whether Yeti's sizing is off by one whole size. With a tester height of 6'2", we fell right in line with Yeti's recommended size large frame with a 25" top tube length, which is about an inch (
one size) longer than most other frames in its category. The reason for this is to maximize the advantage of a short stem when taking into account the SB66's other measurements. When working with a slack head angle that effectively stabilizes steering at speed, it makes sense to have the most precise steering ability possible. For climbing, the longer wheelbase combined with a short stem centers a rider's weight between the axles, having an effect similar to riding with a longer stem. It took some adjustment and a swap to a 50mm stem, but over time we grew to love the SB66's fit for trail riding.
We felt more centered in the SB frame than most bikes we've ridden. The SB66 seems most comfortable on rolling terrain, as its roomy cockpit leaves arms outstretched without much elbow bend due to the bike's overall length. As stable as it feels even in mid-flight, our size large bike did sometimes feel as if we were riding a size too big. While the SB66 is designed to handle best at speed, we found that even on technical terrain we were able to maintain the centered, in-the-bike feel, although this comfort comes at the cost of slightly reduced handling abilities in tight terrain. Only on the steepest of climbs did the bike give the slightest notion of backseat driving, which usually led to us taking a brief, and usually welcome, out-of-the-saddle position.
It's hard to say that Yeti's long geometry is 'wrong'. Perhaps we've just become accustomed to bikes that are too short. The fact is, the SB66 is designed to go fast with a balance between uphill and downhill capability. Fittingly, Yeti's bike is designed to excel in the environment where the company is based - Colorado. Of all the traits of the SB66 to consider, the one characteristic that makes the bike unique is the fit. It's a bike designed with stability in mind, so by nature it has a longer overall feel.
|
The secret to riding the SB66 is to go fast. Pushed hard into its mid-stroke, the super bike holds an uncanny line in rough terrain. |
Climbing As most rides start out with a climb up a mountain, we were instantly in awe over the super bike's energy transfer on rough, technical uphills. Pedal power digs the rear tire into the ground hard, resulting in some wildly impressive climbing ability for a 6" bike. Many riders will appreciate the rear-shock's CTD lever, which can be used to cancel out the SB66's small amount of pedal bob on long climbs. We found the bike to offer plenty of efficiency in the fully active mode, which also leaves less to think about on the ride. Adding to the bike's impressive suspension while climbing is the notably long top tube which spreads out the wheelbase. This added length offers a more centered weight balance than a typical short-stemmed bike which results in added climbing traction.
One Stiff Chassis Some riders will criticize Yeti for the SB66's frame weight of 7.5 lbs with rear shock. While there are many competitors offering lighter options, there aren't many offering such a stiff and responsive frame. The only way we were able to get away with pushing the SB66 as hard as we did was our confidence in the frame. Whether out-of-the-saddle hammering or pushing hard into corners, the Yeti doesn't flinch laterally. Power transfer is the name of the game with this bike. After fully adapting to the bike's handling we found ourselves considering the carbon version, which we've been told is no less stiff or confidence inspiring, but weighs 1.5 pounds less.
We found the SB66 to be geared more towards high-speed trail riding, and if we had the carbon frame version, we would just throw away our XC bike. However, the long feel of the frame, while adding stability at speed, makes the bike feel a bit awkward in the air, and places the SB66 more in the trail bike category. It's also a challenge to handle on tight switchbacks and in tight trees, due to the longer wheelbase. It was immediately apparent from the first ride that the Yeti is from Colorado, where all-out speed negates the need for tight handling characteristics.
|
The SB66's geometry keeps riders stretched out and centered between the axles. Although quite stable, the long fit can seem cumbersome at times. |
Descending Yeti's Switch Technology seems to settle in best around the mid-stroke of the bike's travel. Off the top on technical trails, the rear shock doesn't offer much forgiveness. Tight trails keep the bike high in its travel, sometimes even hanging up unexpectedly on the odd root. Looking for improved handling? Ride faster - the SB66 isn't the best bike for casual meandering. Yeti's Super Bike is meant for speed, and it's obvious once we moved into wide open terrain. It doesn't seem to matter how steep the trail gets, as long as we were off the brakes it was possible to confidently cruise at speeds normally reserved for a heavier bike with more travel.
We were initially skeptical of the Switch Technology rotating pivot mainly due to the potential for contamination and wear. During the first dozen rides, we got a sharp squeak sound toward the end of our descents. Eventually the sound went away on its own and hasn't come back. Despite countless rides in everything from dust to straight up rain, some snow, and lots of mud, and afterwards directly spraying the pivot with water to clean the bike, we had no issues whatsoever with sounds, gritty feel, or any lack of performance due to contamination in the long run. Removing the rear shock after months of testing revealed smooth bearing action that is as good as new. At least for our test SB66 pivot maintenance is a non-issue.
Component Report In one word: Superb. Yes, it's a heck of a pile of money, but for anyone who takes mountain biking seriously, that is, breathes mountain biking through their soul, it's worth splurging for the best components and never looking back. From the day we built the bike to nearly 50 rides later, we didn't have to tighten a single bolt, adjust a single component, or even retension or true a wheel. We're finally at the point of needing to replace brake pads, and we did get one flat tire throughout the test, but generally speaking, this is a low-maintenance setup that performs perfectly.
Shimano's XTR group is an absolute pleasure to use - we would even go so far as to call it flawless. It's ghostly intuitive, and incredibly refined. Anyone who hasn't tried Shimano's single-finger brake lever is missing out in life. Brake modulation is as close to perfect as we can imagine, and offers plenty of power. Shifting is super crisp and accurate. And those DT wheels, wow. Tire selection proved to be appropriate for all conditions, with the larger 2.4 Ardent taking the lead over the smaller, faster rolling 2.25 rear. Aside from the lack of a dropper post and chainguide (
we dropped the chain more often than we would like, until adding a Blackspire Twinty2X guide which also protects the chainring) the component spec on our test bike is absolutely perfect.
Pinkbike's take: | The SB66 was love at first sight. Long and low with plenty of standover, incredibly advanced suspension, a top-shelf build kit, and a dramatically shaped tubeset coated in Yeti's signature turquoise color scheme had us head-over-heels right out of the box. The combination of frame stiffness and an efficient suspension platform create an extremely responsive bike that begs to be ridden fast, up and down. Cross-country riders that don't race and are considering adding a bike in this segment to their fleet should just save up for the SB66c carbon frame and toss all their other bikes out the window. While we would have preferred a slightly shorter cockpit length for technical handling and small bits of airtime, the SB66 is hard to beat for a straight-up mountain bike. For get on and go functionality and reliability, this very well could be the most versatile bike we've tested. -Brad Walton |
www.yeticycles.com
Today's long travel trail bikes ride much higher than bikes designed in the hits ride day. So the standard move back behind the seat post doesn't do the trick anymore. The trick is to move back and down.
Now you can argue that it can be done manually, but the ride seems to flow much better when you don't have stop and readjust all the time.
IMO, flow is priceless on a ride.
"Aside from the lack of a dropper post and chainguide...the component spec on our test bike is absolutely perfect."
it's in the last paragraph before the PB Take.
okay go on negative prop me...
Oh and you are nto up to date with your sarcasm - tubeless is so last few years - it's sub 70g Eclipse tubes from Switzerland that are going to be in fashion this year. In fact I will be buying three for my 29er... Ah can't wait for See Potter Cycle Fashion Show! Cycle Haute Cuture at it's best! Rumour has it that Shmox will present their Enduro racing specific fork with new eliptical 15-17.5mm axle, designed specificaly to work with 650B rims
www.pinkbike.com/photo/9041507
I only run Mountain King 2.2 tyres, which are pretty small for this type of bike, but I would be confident running 2.4's for all round, and 2.5's for DH/uplifted riding.
im currently deciding on a 150-160mm bike,
list so far is
SB66
nomad
TR covert
lapierre spicy
You know, I was thinking about the shock, as well. My Nomad was less than 1 year old, with mild use. The shock had the boost valve and XV sleeve with an orange sticker on it for some reason from Competitive Cyclist. The SB-66 had been a demo, but looked like it was in perfect condition. It did, however, have the kashima coating, and my Nomad did not.... but I doubt that equated to the difference. Volume spacers in my Nomad's rp23 made it worse, to my surprise... perhaps a more linear coil would make it feel more lively? My Nomad felt like it "sunk" into its travel and rode much lower, even when I was at the recommended sag. The SB-66 didn't seem to have that wallowing-deep in the travel feel relative to my Nomad. That's just my experience.
That is a bold statement considering you haven't identified anything else that was similar except for the rear shock. Simply having the same shocks cannot determine if one bike is truly more "lively" than the other. Were both bikes the same size? Did both bikes have the suspension set up for your weight? Were they both running the same tires?
In order to make such a claim, you must have as many controlled variables and only one independent variable (different bikes) and one dependent variable (the liveliness). The number of independent variables you have that could possibly affect the one dependent variable is very high. With a hypothesis as loosely backed up as yours, its hard to believe the SB-66 was more "lively" than the Nomad. Only when you have a SB-66 and an alloy Nomad with exactly the same components and geometry set up to handle the same, as well as the bike set up for one rider to test, you can make a valid conclusion regarding the liveliness of each bike.
and if you insist on this sb66 then lookup "decathlon rockrider 9.1" same suspension for a fraction of the price plus they did it first.(maybe in a couple of years yeti will reinvent gt's idrive )
After my SB66 self destructed (constant bearing problems with the dime sized mail pivot bearings and multiple racks in the frame) I sold my warrantied frame and swapped directly over to the Nomad. The Nomad is better in every riding condition especially with the Monarch shock. While I prefer the longer top tube of he SB66, the Nomad's suspension is smoother up chundery climbs and uses its travel much better on the DH runs.
It is a bit tough to compare the aluminum Yeti to the carbon Santa Cruz but I'm familiar enough with the suspension action of both to make a valid comparison. On top of that, SC's bearing design is far superior with regards to the size of the bearings used and the ability to use a grease gun to service the lower link bearings. Add to that a much better warranty and I'm very glad I sold the Yeti.
Edit: my XL SB66 frame was 9.5lbs with the RP23 shock. That's heavier than any frame I've owned except for my VPFree and far heavier than Yeti's claimed weight. Very disappointing.
So I'm looking for a new bike with all the cool new stuff. Tapered head tube, ISCG mounts, Dropper post guides, AND a 66/67 degree head angle. After riding a few different bikes I'm thinking a NEW 575 with an angleset might be it. I think it would be around 66.5 degrees with one installed. If you have never ridden a Yeti 575, you should consider it. They have been around this long for a reason- they are awesome.
I would love to find a nice one, i really want a coil AM machine!
Also, I never flipped my s**t. Your statement about me being high and for me to chill the f**k out stands a reason for me to think you should calm down.
Prior to buying the SB66c i rode about a half dozen demos, including Transition Covert, Specialized Enduro, Lapierre Spicy and Nomad c. I got the shortlist down to the Nomad c, Spicy and SB66c, which were all amazing, but plumped for SB66c because it had the low slung geometry similar to my Meta, light weight and i liked the slightly longer stretched out feel (as i do have two slightly dodged vertebra). As i say all of these bikes were brilliant going up and down hills, so i think for me it really did come down to what suited me best.
In terms of fit, I am just under 5' 8" and weigh about 152 lbs and i went from a medium meta AM to a small SB66c.
If you are interested you can see pics on my profile and the mainly fox, shimano spec works great, but especially love the KS Lev (bullet proof compared to previous reverbs), the Shadow + as i havent dropped the chain once and the Syntace wheels (which replaced Reynold AM wheels with shockingly bad/ unreliable free hub)
The only thing i would change is the diet of bread and water which i have been on while i try in recoup my finances : )
What made you choose the small over the large? I'm almost the size as you (though a bit lighter and just over 5' 8") and I'm leaning toward the medium.
This concept isn't new (2006 or something like this )
Whatever, same bike characteristics with 73° SA with a 160 mm fork would make it a killer. At least for me!
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8948323
www.pinkbike.com/photo/9041507
How is the cane creek air! I wanted one but my folks said it might make the bike more lean towards Dh rather than trail! I have a demo as well and they said they would prefer if I kept the 2 bikes for different riding.
I'm still trying to convince them
I've been riding since the early 90s and before I bought my SB66 (XT Build Kit), I rode every trail bike I could get my hands on. Nothing was really even close to as good as this bike. There may be some that do one thing or another better but nothing does everything as well as it does.
It does reward those who ride faster, this is not a granny gear cruising down the trail kind of bike, it wants you to push it hard. I'm not saying you can't ride it slow but its certainly not as fun.
It is a little long for the tight stuff but they way they build trails here in the Southeast U.S. there isn't any tight stuff anymore so I guess it doesn't matter. On the switch backs you just need to toss it in harder.
Substantially more weight would kill the idea behind this bike. 2-ply tires, 6" coil spring fork, coil-over rear shock, it's all overkill for the purpose of the SB66. The base build kit isn't going to be 4-5 lbs more, but maybe 2-3. It's negligible. Mainly the function of the higher end components is what I enjoyed from the more expensive build. I don't think added weight from lower-end parts spec will make much difference in the handling of the bike. On the other hand, components that are heavier because they are designed to be more rugged are not a good match for this frame. SB66 will function best with XC-ish components.
Yes, a buyer should always consider multiple options and test ride each if they are available. The value is in the frame itself, with the integration of a unique suspension design and geometry. Consider that the price of the frame isn't drastically different than anything else on the market with a patented suspension. If a buyer's perceived value requires domestic production, the choices are extremely limited and should be quite obvious. But, of those choices currently available, there are other factors about a company that will offset that one desirable characteristic.
Disagree 100% and believe it is a common misconception of the sb66.
Try living with one, you'll soon find out what it's actually good/bad at.
I don't understand where this misconception stems from, please elaborate.
gp1.pinkbike.org/p4pb8976516/p4pb8976516.jpg
Mine for example, happing hucking to flat and chasing my friends on DH bikes.
I see it being measured as where you'd realistically happily pedal the thing, then comparing based on others that pedal to the same extent, rather than thinking right, i can rag this thing, o wait, i can pedal too.
For example " the long feel of the frame. makes the bike feel a bit awkward in the air, and places the SB66 more in the trail bike category", just buy based on geo? Im a medium, but went small, best handling mtb ive ridden in the air.
As for my build not being burly enough to justify my statements, i like light bikes for handling, i'll take the progressiveness of air for added bottom out along with the initial firmness for something to push off and pump, over the weight and minor suppleness gain of coil, i gave the coil/coil a go. Mine is a setup im more than happy riding where everyone else has the DH bike out.
At the end of the day though, in terms of capability, it's all down to the riders ability and comfort zone. If you need coil front and rear and burly wheels for that mental boost, fair enough, bolt them onto a sb, it'll be happy with it, it's geo, weight and stiffness is ready for it.
Obviously, this is all opinion, our opinions may conflict, it dont matter, its just chatting rubbish about bikes.
How can you turn anyone on to a sport that you got to take out a second mortgage for just to get some hardware?
I have the carbon version now and I love it only I wish they came in xsmall , mine has xtr also and waiting on Thomson carbon bars
But can't complain really
Thanks.
What do you prefer about the HD over the SB66? Thanks.
If you can climb out of the saddle without losing traction, doesn't that mean it's not all that steep? Maybe I'm just particularly bad at out-of-the-saddle climbing.
Even w/a dropper which is a no brainer, itll be sub 30.
Longer lower bikes with short stems is the trend no doubt.
I actually think the ASR5 is an objectively 'better' bike than the SB66. The ASR5 is so much better than the competition, it completely changes the concept of a 130mm trail/XC bike. The SB66 is very different, and still class leading, but I wouldn't say it's as far ahead of it's competetion as the ASR5 is.
Does that make sense?
I'm on an ASR5C and thinking about switching frames to the SB66C. How would you compare the two bikes?
The ASR 5 is a very fast 'A to B' bike for that area that spans XC and trail, but there is a limit to what it soak up on a regular basis. The geometry and handling add to up to ability beyond it's 130mm of travel. The SB66 will appeal to similar riders who want to push a bike hard, but it's ultimately capable of tackling far more rugged terrain. The trade off for that is more weight and less efficiency.
I would have happily stuck with my ASR5, but I wanted to get rid of the DH rig, and the SB66 allows me to run a 1 bike stable. There's literally nothing, no terrain (up, down or along) that I can't tackle on the SB66, whereas the ASR5 had a sensible/logical limit.
Just saw that the TT is 25.9 on an XL??? Wow!
I think the bike industry is getting way ahead of itself now in terms of pricing.
guess i'll just keep looking after and rocking my 6.6 then
the thing is you do that have to buy the xtr build. The x7 build costs half of what this cost.
sure the new xtr looks the bomb and i've yet to ride it (personally love X0), i'm just wandering where these guys are finding the market?
the bike industry should be looking for ways to make all of this more accesible, more volume equals better profits?
I remember Scotts uber bike, the '09 Genius that weighed just over 11kg's for 6" of travel, know someone who picked up a secondhand one for R20k (they sold new here for R110k), i would never spend that much on something with such little return. second hand? deal!
buy one NOW°°°!!!
i.pinger.pl/pgr80/2e90d2b7000363384efdc2ec/Mom-Please.jpg
Enduro hands down... unless you ride up A LOT and don't mind an inferior suspension on the downs ... I actually rode the SB back to back with a 2013 Enduro and the Enduro is just way more fun in every type of terrain but smooth pedaly stuff where the switch-link hangs up and almost feels HT stiff... The FSR puts power down real well too AND it brakes awesome. The Enduro is just about the perfect AM bike for my tastes (I've been on an FSR/VPS bike for a LONG time though so I'm more accustomed to the feel). Sorry, bt the Switch-link is just not all that great and FSR works better if you're more into going down fast. The SB is gorgeous and it IS very laterally stiff but the suspension is kinda ON/OFF and it flat sucks in slower tech stuff and never really feels as controlled through it's travel (I found the S to be either too stiff or too mushy once it switched into it's travel where the FSR just felt like it had better control over the spring rate through the travel). The Enduro will pop off things better and land in a more controled manor under neath me to the point where the Yeti just feels sloppy... Your results may vary, but here in the NW terrain I ride the Yeti is just out-classed in the suspension dept. by others (Rune V2, Norco Range, Trans. Covert... all better rides IMO).
Pinchbolts on such small bearings - I wonder how to set proper torque without pinching them out of round. Pinchboltgussets dont like sideloads.
Excenter, together with toparm creates an almost linear movement - like the idea - sadly will go wrong - looks like a major warrantee hassle.
Bottlenipples turn me off.
Single ring in front would do away with 200$ of hardware.
You're an idiot.
Its YETI Turquise!... Ignorant...
This is by far the besat working bike ever!
And yes, all the bolts and bearings are maintenance free!
I rode it over a year on a weekly basis, including races such as Megavalanche.
I had no issues at all!